Pocket utility and writing device



June 28, 1966 osc 3,257,991

POCKET UTILITY AND WRITING DEvIcE Original Filed Dec. 22, 1961 2 h tst 1IN V EN TOR. A? L F7250 MSCH.

June 28, 1966 A. MoscH POCKET UTILITY AND WRITING DEVICE Original FiledDec. 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. A74 FEED/ 50% BY ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,257,991 POCKET UTILITY AND WRITING DEVICE AlfredMosch, 31-24 86th St., Jackson Heights, N.Y. Original application Dec.22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,458. Divided and this application Oct. 26, 1964,Ser. No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 120-1) The present invention relates to an extremelycompact utility and writing device which, in spite of its miniaturedimensions, contains quite a number of tools including a writing deviceand at least one spare writing device, ink cartridge or leads.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No.161,458, filed December 22, 1961, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is the provision of a pocket utility deviceincluding a writing instrument such as a ball point pen or a pencilwhich can be folded into a casing when not in use and out of the casingwhen in use, and also including a spare writing instrument, inkcartridgeor leads. The total Writing capacity of the device equals that of astandard size pen or pencil but requires only about one quarter of thespace needed for the standard pen or pencil and yet includes a casingfor holding the writing instrument and spare parts in folded positionand serving as a handle for the unfolded pen or pencil. By slightlyenlarging the casing other utensils may be added such as a knife blade,a bottle opener, manicuring tools and the like. A cover may be pivotallyconnected to the casing for fully enclosing the utensils when in restposition and making the casing more rigid and locking the utensils inoperative position, i.e. outside of the casing.

An object of the invention is the provision of a very small but sturdypocket utility and writing device which consists of a minimum number ofparts which are either available in the trade or can be inexpensivelymanufactured and assembled.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a pocket utilitydevice including a writing device and a spare writing device, and arugged supporting element to which a receptacle for a spare writingdevice is secured and which is placed inside a casing which may be madeof relatively soft material.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a twopiecebottle or cap remover having a lift action lever hinged to an armwhereby a better and greater leverage is obtained than that ofconventional onepiece bottle openers and cap removers. The new bottleopener requires less space, less material and is lighter thanconventional bottle openers and, in addition, provides protectionagainst injuries caused by unprotected sharp edges.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will bestbe understood from the following description of embodiments thereof whenread in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a'device according to the invention inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of a modifieddevice according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of

ice-

a further modification of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 7

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 7, with partsbroken away.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGS. 7 to 9,the section being made along line XX of FIG. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate afoldable writing device including a double receptacle for holding twoink cartridges, one being in position for writing and the other servingas spare. Numeral 1 designates a casing which is so shaped as to fitconveniently in a hand and to serve as a handle when the device is inoperative position as shown. A holder 2 is swingably connected to thecasing 1 by means of a hollow pin 4. The holder 2 has a shoulder 5adapted to abut against an edge 6 of the bottom Wall 7 of the casing 1.The holder 2 has a cavity having a bottom distant from the pin 4 andaccommodating an ink cartridge 3 of a ball point pen in a positionwherein the writing end of the pen protrudes from the holder. The cavityhas a portion 8 extending farther toward the pin 4 and forming areceptacle for almost entirely receiving a spare pen 9. The holder, thewriting pen and the spare pen are shown by dash-dot lines in restposition inside the casing. Though FIGURES 1 to 3 illustrate a ballpoint pen writing device, it is obvious that conventional pencils whichmay be of the mechanical type, may be inserted into the cavities of theholder 2 in lieu of the pens or a pen and a pencilmay be inserted andselectively used.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 4 to 6 the holder for the writingpen and receptacle for the spare pen form two separate units which areboth pivotally connected to one end of a casing by means of a singlepivot pin. The casing is broad enough to accommodate additional utensilswhich are swingably connected to the casing by the same pin which holdsthe writing pen and the receptacle.

Numeral 1 designates an oblong casing which is open on one of its longsides. A pin 4 is provided at one end of the casing and swingablysupports a holder 2 for a writing pen 3'. As in the example shown inFIGURES 1 to 3 the holder has a shoulder 5' abutting against an edge 6'at one end of the bottom wall 7 of the casing 1' when the holder isoutside of the casing and the pen is in operating position. A tubularreceptacle 10 contains a spare ball point pen 9. One end of thereceptacle 10 is held in the casing 1 by means of the pin 4'; the otherend extends through an aperture in the end of casing 1 which end isopposite to the end where the pin 4' is provided. A screw plug 13 closesthe end of the receptacle 10 extending through the aperture in thecasing 1'. In the example illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 6 the easing ismade wide enough to accommodate additional utensils, such as a knifeblade 14 and a bottle opener 15 which are located at the'sides of thereceptacle 10 and of the holder 2 when the latter is in rest positioninside of the casing 1. A cover 16 swings on a pivot 17 which is at theend of the casing 1 through which the receptacle 10 extends. The freeend 18 of the cover 16 is shaped to abut against a shoulder 19 providedon the holder 2 when the latter is swung outside of the casing and thecover 16 is in closed position for holding the holder in the operativeposition. Similar shoulders are provided on the other utensils 14 and15. The cover 16 protects the utensils when they are in rest positioninside the casing and firmly holds the utensils in the operativeposition. The cover with the casing forms a solid handle for theutensils when they are inoperative position outside of the casing andthe cover is closed.

The modification shown in FIGURES 7 to 10 is characterized by a specialutensil-supporting means which is connected to the casing by the pinwhich swingably supports the utensils. One end of the receptacle forreceiving a spare writing device extends into the supporting means andis held thereby adjacent to the rear wall of the casing. FIG. 9 alsoshows a modified bottle opener which, in spite of its small size, ismore effective and adaptable to remove various shapes of caps than theconventional bottle openers.

Whereas in the example shown in FIGURES 4 to 6 the cover 16 has lateralportions which are outside of the casing the cover 16 in the exampleshown in FIGURES 7 to 10 has lateral portions 16" which are inside thecasing when the cover is closed. A tool-supporting element 20 having aU-shaped cross-sectional configuration is held inside the casing 1" by apivot 4' which also supports a pen holder 2" receiving the ink cartridgeof a pen 3, a bottle opener 15 and a knife blade 14. Shoulders of thepenholder and of the additional utensils abut against an edge 21 ofelement 20 when the utensils are in the operative position outside ofthe casing 1". A tubular receptacle has an end extending into an inwardprotuberance 22 formed in the element 20, the opposite end of thereceptacle extending outside of the casing being closed by a screw plug13 as in the example shown in FIGURES 4 to 6. The receptacle 10' isadapted to receive a spare Writing device. The gate or cover 16 has afree end 18 adapted to engage corresponding shoulders 19 provided on theholder 2" and on the utensils and 14'.

By providing a sturdy, metallic tool-supporting element 20 the casing 1"may be made of relatively soft material, for example plastic.

The bottle opener and cap remover 15 shown in FIG. 9 in partly extendedposition comprises an arm 23 to which a foldable lift action lever 24 ispivoted at 25. In rest position the lever 24 is alongside the arm 23. Inoperative position the lever 24 is at an angle with respect to the arm23, as shown in FIG. 9.

I claim:

1. A pocket utility device comprising, in combination:

an oblong casing having an open long side,

an oblong holder for receiving a writing element,

an oblong receptacle for receiving a spare writing element,

a supporting element placed inside said casing and secured thereto, and

a pin at one end of said casing and extending through said supportingelement and through one end of said holder,

said holder being capable of swinging on said pin through said open sideof said casing from a rest position within said casing alongside saidreceptacle to an operative position outside of said casing,

said receptacle being placed inside of and secured to said supportingelement and extending through the second end of said casing.

2. A pocket utility device comprising:

an oblong casing having an open long side,

pivot means connected to one end of said casing,

21 supporting element placed inside said casing and secured thereto bysaid pivot means,

an oblong holder for receiving a writing device, said holder beingswingable on said pivot means to swing through said open side from arest position within said casing to an operative position outside ofsaid casing, and

an oblong receptacle for receiving a spare writing device, saidreceptacle having one end secured to said supportnig element and havinga second end extending through the second end of said casing.

3. A pocket utility device comprising:

an oblong casing having an open long side,

pivot means connected to one end of said casing,

a supporting element placed inside said casing and secured thereto bysaid pivot means,

an oblong holder for receiving a writing device, said holder beingswingable on said pivot means to swing through said open side from arest position within said casing to an operative position outside ofsaid casing,

a pocket formed in said supporting element, and

an oblong receptacle for receiving a spare writing device, saidreceptacle having one end received in said pocket of said supportingelement and having a second end extending through the second end of saidcasing.

4. A pocket utility device comprising:

an oblong casing having an open long side,

a supporting means placed inside said casing and secured thereto,

pivot means connected to said supporting means,

an oblong holder for receiving a Writing device,

an oblong receptacle for receiving a spare writing element, saidreceptacle being secured to said supporting means,

said holder being connected to said pivot means and adapted to swing onsaid pivot means through said open side of said casing from a restposition within said casing alongside said receptacle to an operativeposition outside of said casing,

a bottle cap remover having an arm swingable on said pivot means andadapted to swing through said open side from a rest position inside saidcasing to an operative position outside of said casing, and

a lift action lever swingably connected to said arm. 1

5. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing hasa U-shaped cross sectional configuration, and said supporting means hasa U-shaped cross sectional configuration fitting into said casing.

6. A pocket utility device as defined in claim 1 wherein said holder isprovided with a shoulder and said supporting means is provided with anedge, said shoulder abutting against said edge when said holder is inthe operative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,564 10/1912Merrill 81-3.35 2,896,576 7/1959 Baer 1 2,971,494 2/1961 Seyer 120 42.13,018,761 1/1962 Ashcroft 120 42.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 51,678 3/1910 Switzerland.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

1. A POCKET UTILITY DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN OBLONG CASING HAVING AN OPEN LONG SIDE, AN OBLONG HOLDER FOR RECEIVING A WRITING ELEMENT, AN ABLONG RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A SPARE WRITING ELEMENT, A SUPPORTING ELEMENT PLACED INSIDE SAID CASING AND SECURED THERETO, AND A PIN AT ONE END OF SAID CASING AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SUPPORTING ELEMENT AND THROUGH ONE END OF SAID HOLDER, SAID HOLDER, BEING CAPABLE OF SWINGING ON SAID PIN THROUGH SAID OPEN SIDE OF SAID CASING FROM A REST POSITION WITHIN SAID CASING ALONGSIDE SAID RECEPTACLE TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION OUTSIDE OF SAID CASING, SAID RECEPTACLE BEING PLACED INSIDE OF AND SECURED TO SAID SUPPORTING ELEMENT AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE SECOND END OF SAID CASING. 